title: A new anti-infective strategy to reduce the spreading of antibiotic resistance by the action on adhesion-mediated virulence factors in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a flexible microbial pathogen frequently isolated from community-acquired and nosocomial infections. S. aureus expresses a wide array of secreted and cell surface-associated virulence factors, including proteins that promote adhesion to damaged tissue and to the surface of host cells, and that bind proteins in blood to help evade immune responses. Furthermore, surface proteins have a fundamental role in virulence related properties of S. aureus, including biofilm formation. The present study evaluates the anti-infective capabilities of a secreted protein of Serratia marcescens (serratiopeptidase, SPEP), in impairing some staphylococcal virulence-related properties, such as attachment to inert surfaces and adhesion/invasion on eukaryotic cells. SPEP seems to exert its action by modulating specific proteins. It is not assessed if this action is due to the proteolytic activity of SPEP or to a specific mechanism which triggers an out/inside signal. Proteomic studies performed on surface proteins extracted from SPEP treated S. aureus cultures revealed that a number of proteins are affected by the treatment. Among these we found the adhesin/autolysin Atl, SdrD, Sbi, EF-Tu and EF-G. EF-Tu and EF-G are known to perform a variety of function, depending on their cytoplasmic or surface localization. All these factors can facilitate bacterial colonization, persistence and invasion of host tissues. Our results suggest that SPEP could be developed as a potential "anti-infective agent" capable to hinder the entry of S. aureus into human tissues, and also impairs the ability of this pathogen to adhere to prostheses, catheters and medical devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cellini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tilotta
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galano
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amoresano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selan
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000201:enzymology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: Adhesion; Biofilm; Serratiopeptidase; Staphylococcus aureus; Virulence